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We wanted to get to buy some tiles from the Harrow on the Hill branch of Topps Tiles. I left work early as did my partner. We took a detour to get to this shop which said that it was open until 6pm tonight. We got there at 5.40pm. Lights on, doors locked. I phoned the number. It rang and rang and rang. I tried to phone customer service - but it closed at 5pm. Utterly disgusting - costs us a tenner to get to a store that is closed and has no way to contact them out of core business hours. Dreadful. Avoid. like. the. plague

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Would never use again

As the tiling shop with the most eye catching signs and a national company I thought it would be a safe bet having a look at their products...oh how wrong was I! I am bit of a stickler for hunting around and comparing, doing the leg work basically to get what I want...

My experience: happy to sell loose tiles not in a box but won't accept returns not in a box. Won't let you return less than a box full. If you loose your receipt then any returns have be to authorised and go go through head office and this can take up to two weeks. They say they are 'doing you a deal' then sting you with all the accessories you need to go with a product which takes the final price even higher. The commonest complain is that you ask for a product, they say it will be there, it doesn't arrive and is in a depot 20 miles away but it will take them a week to get it.

This is particularly annoying when you have tradesmen etc on site and a job could get held up because they can't deliver a service or goods. This final experience is one that I have heard over and over again.

My final summary would be, that they are over priced, rude, I forgot to mention the Stalinist attitude I got from management, terrible customer service, lazy, and are unable to deliver a service that is essential to people and tradesmen...

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Great range of tiles, related supplies and services, available nationwide and online

This review is based on a recent purchase of wall tiles from our local Topps Tiles store. We were particularly impressed with the range of tiles on offer, and they had a product that matched our needs and actually exceeded our expectations once fitted. Overall, we are more than happy with their service and value for money.

~~The kitchen project~~

A vital part of our ongoing kitchen renovation project involved replacing old wall tiles. These had been chosen by a previous occupier and we wanted something more to our own taste.

~~Coming up Topps~~

Topps came up with the goods. We had a fairly specific style of tiles in mind but found nothing quite suitable in the main DIY stores. The range of tiles at Topps was wider and generally more inspiring. Their service was friendly and helpful, the prices seemed reasonable and they were able to supply what we wanted immediately from stock.

~~Topps stores, showrooms and stock~~

Topps claim to be 'the UK's largest tile specialists' and apparently have 300 stores nationwide. Our nearest happened to be in Falkirk but, judging by their website, this is fairly standard. The showroom is bright, well laid out and easily accessible with a customer car park immediately adjacent. We even managed to park at the front door, so had no need for their free delivery service (on orders over £150).

We were after a rustic style of small plain ceramic tiles, arranged in a geometric pattern of up to 4 different colours. This proved to be no problem. We found exactly what we wanted from their classic range - a matt finish natural stone effect product available in several colours - and took advantage of their sample service (not free but said to be returnable). That allowed us to see the tiles in situ and confirm suitability.

~~Help and advice~~

As we had the approximate dimensions, Topps were able to advise on quantities and could also recommend local tilers to carry out the work professionally. As it happened, we needed preparatory plastering and other work and ended up using a different company, but this could otherwise have been a useful service.

The Topps website (address below) has some useful resources and tools for design visualisation and tiles selection but I can't say we actually needed this. The showroom displays and brochure were enough and our plasterer/tiler did the rest, supplying all other materials, grouting, adhesives etc. So all we needed from Topps were the tiles themselves, which were boxed for us and carried out to the car. For DIYers, they will supply everything including specialist tools, but I can't vouch for their prices for these.

It might also be worth noting that Topps offer free 30 minute consultations with one of their store managers. This service can be requested via their website. (See below)

~~Our final choice~~

We eventually settled on their Zanzibar range in five separate colours. These are 10cm square and are apparently still available at £0.44 pence each, though we actually paid a penny less per tile last month.

~~Last word : inside/out~~

Shortly after our kitchen tiles were fitted, a relative happened to asked about sources for outdoor tiles, needed for a repair to an exterior porch step exposed to the elements. Having just had such good service from Topps, I suggested they might be worth trying. But apparently their local store had said they had no outdoor tiles, as such. According to the website some of their tiles are in fact rated 'indoor/outdoor' but they do all seem to be specified for rooms, conservatories etc., and there may not have been any of suitable dimensions to replace pre-metric tiles.

Having said that, Topps do offer a range of paving stones and slabs for gardens.

~~Verdict~~

Topps Tiles are well worth visiting online for inspiration or to find your nearest store. They claim to be 'the UK's largest tile specialist' and do have a massive range from which to choose, plus specialist help and advice. They may not always be the cheapest but they do have a 'lowest price guarantee' - for identical products at least.

~~Select links~~

* www.toppstiles.co.uk

~~Footnote~~

Since writing this review, we have just received a welcome refund for surplus tiles. We had quite a few left over and Topps were as good as their word, happily taking back several complete boxes. Great service!

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Topps Tiles is the only tile shop nearby, so we've been there several times, but after our latest visit I don't think we'll be returning. We bought some lovely looking polished limestone tiles for the kitchen floor, having been told by the Topps Tiles guys that they would be "fine in the kitchen" provided we also bought their cleaner and sealer, of course. What they should have said was that they would be "fine in the kitchen provided you don't use it", because despite the tiles being cleaned and sealed exactly as instructed, they show every spill and stain unless you wipe it up instantly -- and sometimes even then. The Topps Tiles staff clearly have no training, apart from in how to push their products. I wish I'd read all the other reviews on here before we bought from them!

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Don't bother with them

Topps Tiles took our order even though we made it clear that we needed the tiles within a week so that our tiler could finish the job. The guy rang round to check that they were in stock loacally. The tiles didn't arrive in time and they admitted they had made a mistake: they shouldn't have taken our money hoping that the stock would get there in time, plus they should have done a stock check sooner rather than finding out on collection day.

However, they then refused to get the stock from another shop for us and instead tried to give us a whole load of mismatched, scratched tiles from several different packs.

No appology. Rather confrontational approach from their manager too. I went across the carpark and bought virtually the same tiles for slightly cheaper from Homebase. Wish I had done this to begin with. Grout is cheaper in Topps but then it's always in stock so it's not a problem.

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tile choice is good but thats where it ends ...when you go to a specialist store you expect to be given sound advice, but to be honest, the people working in my local store know as much about tiling as I do about getting a man on the moon...they umm and they ahh and they give really poor advice ......Im a new tiler by trade as well...so now I only go to Tileflair ...FAR more professional and I feel that both myself and my customers get the right advice and feel far more confident with what we are being told... and its not just about selling.....sorry Topps...but wont be coming back

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Disappointed

Myself & husband visited your store today. We were looking for some budget tiles for a bathroom & kitchen for a BTL property we are renovating. On arrival we were greeted by a hello then left alone. After a while I interrupted a young man to ask of our request and he umed and arred for quite some time as if he had no idea of what I had asked for then showed me some tiles at £36m2. I then said no their too expensive & he again looked blank. My husband was walking around with our 18 month old who was starting to play up so I used him as the excuse to leave. I was very dissapointed. We then went to Euxton tiles & got a good quote & customer service we were looking for. I Don't know if your tiles are that expensive or if it the staff that are letting you down. Either way times are hard & I felt you might like this feed back.

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I recently visited the store in Swindon. Fantastic experience! Good advice on tiles, the price fitted my budget perfectly.We paid £19.99 for a trusted tiler and 12 months guarantee.What can I say? - I'll be back.

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Beware of gimmicky sales and ancillary costs.

Freely I send in my clients to Topps Tiles to choose tiles and did so with Mavis , incidentally in her 70's. Mavis only had to supply tiles as all the adhesives/grout/trims I supply within my quotation.Mavis got confused and ordered all the adhesives/grout/trims as well as her tiles. On realising her mistake Mavis managed eventually to get a refund.Even though Mavis was MY CLIENT I am now a person non grata in Topps Tiles Swindon as I refused to allow Mavis to buy their adhesives/grout/trims!!I bought all these ancillary items elsewhere for just over £250. Topps Tiles Swindon charged Mavis , and wait for this , £600 .Topps Tiles' view is that even though Mavis was MY client I have "done" them out of a £600 sale.There was silly me thinking I was giving them a sale of over £700-£800 worth of actual tiles.Nice One Topps Tiles - Even Making The Bankers Look Good

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Do not trust this company to keerp a date, their customer support are liars and do not care for the customer and if you try to get to senior management, it will not happen. I was given a date for delivery on a ' in stock tile discontinued line' date came and went. Asked why and to speak to senior management ended up back at customer support and passed from one to another who claimed to be senior management it was just an agent I hade already spoken to, answer ' you can cancel order' end of story. Ten days gone and tiles MAY be here in another ten days.

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I spent £2000 at new Southgate branch of TopTiles. Don't buy your laminate flooring from Toptiles. The quality is very bad. Tiles are OK but it takes ages to receive if something is not in stock. The worst thing about Top tiles is that they take back any unused items only 7 weeks after sale. I took back three unopened boxes on the 8th week and they refused to take it back. The customer experience at top tiles is not good. I had to do similar amount of trade with Wickes and B&Q. B&Q is the best. I have completed my decorations now but if I ever do DIY again. I will try to get all my material from my local B&Q. Wickes has good customer service as well and actually it is closer to me but B&Q is cleaner.

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dont bother

Overview------------Topps Tiles is a chain of nationwide tile shops selling wall tiles and floor tiles and various kinds of other flooring such as laminate. They are usually in out of town shopping areas with plenty of parking.

Stores----------The stores are reasonably large with a less than convenient layout - most items are piled on the floor and are not very easy to see. Opening hours are good (open 7 days a week)

Prices---------I would say prices are above average and the quality and choice isnt great either. They do a lot of mid range stuff but they are no better than B&Q and B&Q are cheaper.

Range--------The range is mostly plain and simple. Nothing too special, i think this is where the shop lets itself down. The range is definately boring and for anything fancy i would shop else where.

Returns---------You can return anything for a full refund within 28 days, it must however remain unopened.

Overall----------Not sure who the store is aimed at as it is too expensive for property developers and too boring for home improvers. I wouldnt be suprised if the chain closed within a couple of years. Not impressed at all.

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a good place to shop for tiles

I have used topps tiles 3 times in the past, and i have to say they have been pretty good. They sell a good range of tiles, and i managed to choose all my tiles for 2 bathrooms and 2 kitchens. The tiles are always a good quality, and if you have any over they will take them back for you.

But please note, if you buy any tiles from the very expensive section (normally on a display stand) if you order too many, topps tiles will not take them back. I had this experience and was really mad, as though its on the small print on the recipt they didnt warn me about this when i was ordering them.

Topps tiles are good on price, though i have since found the adhesives, grout etc alot cheaper online.

Topps tiles now offer a delivery service, for free, which is a good idea, as it used to cost me £20 to have the tiles delivered.

They offer also a dvd on how to tile, its free with any purchase, and i have to say get it, as it is brilliant. I'd never tiled before and this cd really was a godsend, and the finish was brilliant.

Ive never had a bad salesman in topps tiles, although they will folllow you around when you walk in, so unless you want the hassle just say your browsing.

They also have a catalogue as you walk in, my advice pick it up, and use it as you walk round, as there are some good pictures inside.

Often topps tiles have most of the tiles in stock, which is good, but even if they dont they can normally get them in for in 2 days.

Overall ive always been impressed with topps tiles, just be careful not to order to many tiles, as they wont always take them back.

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save your money and go elsewhere!

Topps tiles is extremely expensive. They do say that they will match or beat your quote by 5 % but there tiles are unique to there store so how will you be able to get another quote from a different tile shop for the same tile? Basically you will not get that 5% off its just there to lure you in!

My local Topps tiles is quite a small store but they still hold alot of different style wall tiles, laminates and floor tiles. They also sell grouts, adhesives, tile trims, beadings, door plates, under floor heating (which costs a bomb from them) and many more.

The team service was a bit vague, they didnt really know much about what they was selling. They basically gave me a booklet and told me look through this whilst having a look around the store. They do pester you a bit as they are wanting to get a sale which shouts out that they are working on a commission basis.

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Save money and shop elsewhere

I was sold a bag of BAL rapidset adhesive @£52 for a 20KG bag and I managed to get one from PLATFORM Building Materials for less than half that price. Like wise for the Grout !!! TT have this policy that if you are a trade customer than they would discount the price. TT reason - Internet will always be cheaper but i found a store that is much cheaper and helpfull. No wonder their shares are in dire.